A man already charged in state court with first-degree murder has been hit with a federal charge after a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee was allegedly stabbed to death on a train in North Carolina last month, the Justice Department and FBI said Tuesday.
Federal prosecutors charged 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr. with one count of committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system, a statement from the agencies said. The federal case is being brought in addition to a state first-degree murder indictment that prosecutors filed earlier in the investigation.
Authorities say the victim, identified as 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska, was a Ukrainian refugee. Video of the incident released by investigators shows the fatal stabbing taking place onboard the train; officials said the footage was used in the course of the investigation.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, in announcing the federal prosecution, described Brown as a "repeat violent offender with a history of violent crime" and said she had directed attorneys to pursue federal charges. "We will seek the maximum penalty for this unforgivable crime, and he will never again see the light of day as a free man," Bondi said.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the agency provided immediate assistance to ensure justice is served. "This is a disgraceful act that should never happen in America," Patel said in a statement. "The FBI jumped to assist in this investigation immediately to ensure justice is served, and the perpetrator is never released from jail to kill again."
Brown remains in custody as the state and federal cases proceed. Officials did not provide a timetable for potential federal indictment filings or hearings, nor did they disclose whether additional federal charges are under consideration.
The federal statute cited covers acts that cause death on mass transportation systems, bringing potential separate penalties and prosecutorial resources to the case. State prosecutors continue to pursue the first-degree murder charge, which carries its own penalties under North Carolina law.
Investigators have said the case drew prompt attention from multiple agencies. Local law enforcement led the initial inquiry, with the FBI assisting at the request of prosecutors, according to the announcement.
Public statements from federal officials emphasized punishment and public safety. Beyond those remarks, officials have provided few additional public details about the motive, the full sequence of events on the train, or the precise location of the incident. The investigation remains active as both state and federal prosecutors prepare their respective cases.